By Victor Kanayo
When the Ethiopia senior women National team will host their Nigeria counterparts also known as the Super Falcons in Addis Ababa during the first leg of 2024 Olympics football qualifier, Coach Randy Waldrum will not be there.
Both sides are meant to face each other on Wednesday.
Heritage Times HT reports that apart from ongoing contract negotiation between Waldrum and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for possible renewal, the gaffer who resides in the United States is currently focusing on his other University academy job.
Aside heading Super Falcons while earning a humongous salary, Waldrum is also the head coach of University of Pittsburgh Panthers women’s soccer club.
Assistant Coaches Take Charge
In Waldrum’s absence, assistant coaches – Justin Madugu, Ann Agumanu-Chiejine, and Auwal Makwalla will take charge of the team.
Both Madugu and Agumanu-Chiejine possess the requisite credentials to lead the Super Falcons as both have Confederation of African Football (CAF) Grade A certification; UEFA and USSF coaching licences from Germany, England, Spain and United States of America (USA) respectively.
Agumanu-Chiejine, who won many laurels for Nigeria and was the longest Super Falcons goalkeeper before taking to coaching after retirement, has served as assistant coach under coach Florence Omagbemi led team that won WAFCON trophy in Cameroon in 2016.
Also, Makwalla, the goalkeeper trainer alongside Madugu worked under former Super Falcons head coach Thomas Dennerby when Nigeria won her last Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) trophy in 2018 in Ghana and assisted the Swedes in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in France.
Available Players In Camp
Up to 19 players including Paris FC goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Oluwatosin Demehin, midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade and forward Asisat Oshoala reportedly had their first official training session on Tuesday afternoon at the Abebe Bekila Stadium in the heart of Ethiopia’s capital
Goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi and Monle Oyono, defenders Rofiat Imuran, Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne, Akudo Ogbonna, Jumoke Alani and Comfort Folorunsho, as well as midfielders Esther Onyenezide, Toni Payne and Peace Efih, and forwards Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday, Omorinsola Babajide and Opeyemi Ajakaye also joined the training session.
Only US-based forward Ifeoma Onumonu was being expected in Addis Ababa as at the time of filling this report.
